DUI Intensive Supervision Therapeutic Court

Mission
The mission of the Spokane County DUI Intensive Therapeutic Court (ISTC) is to compel chemically dependent offenders to address their chemical dependency, criminal thinking, and behavior. This is accomplished through support, accountability, treatment, intensive supervision and consistent contact with the ISTC team. By eliminating alcohol and drug use and the associated criminal activity, it is the intent of the court to also reduce recidivism, enhance community safety, reduce alcohol and other drug related deaths, and increase rehabilitation.

The Court will provide a means to successfully rehabilitate offenders by diverting them from the conventional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools they need to successfully reintegrate back into society.

What is the DUI Intensive Supervision Therapeutic Court?
The DUI Intensive Supervision Therapeutic Court (ISTC) is a specialty
court with the responsibility of handling cases involving hard-core
drinking drivers that are chemically dependent through comprehensive
supervision, treatment services, and a system of incentives and
sanctions. ISTC provides a non-traditional approach to criminal DUI
offenders who are severely chemically dependent. Rather than focusing
only on the crimes committed and punishments received, ISTC attempts to
address the underlying issues.

As part of a comprehensive
approach to encourage a sober lifestyle, an individual supervision
program will include chemical dependency treatment, Moral Recognition
Therapy (MRT), frequent testing for use, regular attendance at court
hearings, and regular contact with probation staff to assist the
participant in obtaining additional services if needed.

The
Judge is closely involved in each case as a team member. Offenders will
be rewarded or sanctioned based on his or her compliance with the
program. If the participant does not work toward treatment goals, then
they will be terminated from the program. On the other hand, if the
participant does work toward treatment goals, they will be given an
opportunity to gain the necessary tools to rebuild their life.

How Does One Qualify?To qualify, one must have been convicted of three or more DUI/Physical Control or amended DUIs in the past 10 years. Potential dis-qualifiers (on a case by case basis) include prior sex or violent crime convictions, prior or current Drug Court involvement, and DOC community custody holds, residency outside of Spokane County, active gang affiliation, or individuals identified as ROP offenders.